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A temporary truck driver was arrested in Tewksbury after he jumped out of his truck and charged at the protesters with a hammer, according to police.

Police said Ira Forbes, 27, of Brooklyn, New York, became involved in an argument with protesters. Police said Forbes armed himself with a hammer, got out of his truck and began to approach the crowd.

Police said Forbes ignored their demands to get back into his truck, and after seeing he was armed with a dangerous weapon and walking toward the crowd in a threatening manner, they disarmed him and arrested him.

Forbes was charged with assault by means of a dangerous weapon and for being a disorderly person.

He's expected to appear in court on Monday.

After the incident, Market Basket issued a statement saying, "Both the driver and the company for which he worked have been terminated, effective immediately."

Earlier in the day, more than 40 religious leaders from the nonprofit Merrimack Valley Project are supporting an end to the standoff that's left 20 stores in the Merrimack Valley virtually shut down.

Several spoke at the monument that marks the location of the original Market Basket off Dummer Street in Lowell. They say other stores cannot offer the same low prices.

"It's hitting our pockets big time, big time. The Demoulas and Market Basket, it is known in this community as the supermarket of the poor," said the Rev. Raffoul Najem, of the Community Christian Fellowship.

Meanwhile workers continued their demonstrations and calls for Arthur T. Demoulas to be reinstated as company CEO.

Friday marks the deadline set by the current leadership for more than 200 full-time employees to return to work.

"It was a question as to whether or not some workers would go back to work today. I think the message has been made clear, and nobody is reporting back today," said fired worker Joe Schmidt.